Skip to main content

Continental X-King ProTection 2.2in tyre


The X-King sits between Conti’s wider spaced, knobblier Mountain King and Trail King tyres and their super-fast, barely treaded Race King.

The Black Chilli rubber mix is a similar compromise of rolling speed and wear life, with just enough tackiness to stop it being treacherous if things get damp. Where this tyre really scores is agility and acceleration-enhancing low weight despite its cut-proof ProTection carcass and reasonable volume for a 2.2in tyre (the 2.4in is massive). The well-spaced tread hooks up OK in loose loam, gravel or tackier conditions to stay safer than a semi-slick on the front in summer or the rear in winter. It’s floppy at low pressures and doesn’t have the most reliable tubeless seal though, and the cheap version found on some complete bikes is very delicate.

Best for: Front
Weight: 610g
Width: 52mm

Price 75$

Popular posts from this blog

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.